EP1277333A1

EP1277333A1 - Method for operating a telecommunications system

Info

Publication number: EP1277333A1
Application number: EP01940188A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heinrich-Helmut Brenig; Detlef Firch
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG; T Mobile Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG; Telekom Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2000-04-27
Filing date: 2001-04-25
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-25
Also published as: DE50105624D1; DE10020567A1; EP1277333B1; WO2001082579A1; PL357744A1; CZ20023570A3; AU2001273853A1; CZ302045B6; US7317911B2; US20040038674A1; ATE291325T1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a telecommunications system and to a corresponding telecommunications system comprising at least one centralized device and at least one telecommunications terminal device, which is configured for communicating with the centralized device and/or other telecommunications terminal devices. The invention is characterized in that one or more control programs are stored in the centralized device, whereby the control programs can be activated by signals of the telecommunications terminal device in order to initiate one or more functions in the telecommunications terminal device, in the centralized device and/or in other telecommunications terminal devices.

Description

Method for operating a telecommunication system

The invention relates to a method for operating a telecommunications system and a telecommunications system according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Telecommunications systems, especially digital ones

Mobile radio systems are becoming increasingly popular, as they ensure that participants can be reached almost anywhere and at any time. In addition to the basic service of telephony, modern mobile terminals offer a variety of additional services such as short message service, fax, e-mail and central announcement and information services, in which the subscriber can call up current information by dialing a specific number.

Other services and additional functions are also known. From DE 44 13 974 AI and patents based thereon, for example DE 196 29 535 C 2, handsets of a cordless telephone system or mobile telephones are known which either have an emergency call button and a memory for an emergency call text and / or have a multifunction button, via the control programs can be activated, which are stored in a fixed memory or a programmable memory of the handset. Since it cannot be assumed that all end device manufacturers will continue to develop their end devices according to the same criteria, but rather strive to differentiate themselves from their competitors, this creates the disadvantage for potential users of such end devices and the functions that can be activated via them (e.g. monitoring functions). not to be free in the choice of its terminal equipment supplier. moreover the primary implementation of such functions in cordless handsets is a limitation in the use of such functions.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a method for operating a telecommunication system and a corresponding telecommunication system with which the use of one or more different additional services is possible independently of the communication systems and telecommunication terminal devices used.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims.

The method and telecommunication system according to the invention is characterized in that one or more control programs are stored in the central device, the control programs being able to be activated or deactivated by signals from the telecommunication terminal in order to be able to

Telecommunications terminal device, the central device and / or in other telecommunications terminal devices to trigger one or more functions or to terminate the function.

The advantage of the invention lies in the use of central devices in the form of control units which can be implemented in various types of telecommunications networks in accordance with the following applications / functions and in which various control programs are stored, which of any

Telecommunication terminal devices can be activated and trigger functions in the terminal devices, the central device and / or other terminal devices that a Enable use of monitoring and other additional functions in a general, device-independent form or which can be deactivated to end the functions. The functions can include the use and transmission of information such as voice, data, text, video etc.

The method described is independent of the type of telecommunications system, e.g. Mobile radio system and / or landline, and also regardless of the telecommunications terminal equipment used and

Telecommunications carriers. Through the use (activation / control) of central control units on one or on different device-independent communication carrier systems, different services can be used individually or in groups with one or, depending on the service, with several terminal devices and devices available on the market.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control programs in the central device are activated by signals from the telecommunication terminal device, which are triggered by certain buttons, such as function keys, programmable buttons and / or speed dial buttons of the telecommunication terminal device. The signals can alternatively be input by voice or by certain events, e.g. timed, triggered.

A possible control program works as a room monitoring program, in which a call display device of the telecommunication terminal is muted, a volume level device downstream of a microphone of this terminal is activated to generate a sound signal when a predetermined noise level detected by the microphone is exceeded, by means of the sound signal the selection of an in the terminal device stored call number of the central device is activated and a connection is established to the central device, and a call number stored there is selected after a predetermined period of time. This function is e.g. B. useful for monitoring infants or as intrusion monitoring.

It is advantageous to activate the room monitoring program and call the stored one

Call number a confirmation message on the part of the dialed call number back to the central facility or to the telecommunication terminal.

It is provided that if there is no confirmation by the call number or a dialed connection, the dialing process is optionally repeated for other previously defined call numbers at previously defined time intervals, and the central unit stores the dialing processes for the call number together with time information. The saved dialing processes are together with the

Time information can be called up from the central unit. This makes it possible to check that the room monitoring function is working properly.

Another control program provided according to the invention works as an active emergency call program, in which one or more specific keys of the telecommunications terminal function as an emergency call key, when actuated an emergency call signal is sent to the central device, which forwards this emergency call to a call number stored in the control program of the central unit. If the active emergency call program is activated, an emergency number stored in the central facility can be dialed when a specific key is pressed, to which a message stored in the central facility is transmitted.

Another control program provided according to the invention works as a person monitoring program, in which one or more specific keys of the terminal device have the function of a reset key, and in one

Monitoring program of the central facility an emergency signal or a call to a call number stored in the central unit is generated when the reset button after

Activation of the personal monitoring program is not actuated within a time period that can be predetermined by a timer in the central unit, the predetermined time period starting again when the reset button is actuated. This makes personal monitoring e.g. possible from sick or old people.

A further development of the invention provides a warning device which generates an optical and / or acoustic warning signal after a predetermined time interval during a warning interval when the personal monitoring program is activated in the central device, an emergency signal being generated if the reset button does not fall within one after the start of the warning signal Warning interval is pressed, the time interval starts again after pressing the reset button.

Furthermore, it can be provided that when a person monitoring program is activated, a predetermined emergency number is dialed in the event of an emergency signal and an information or message stored in the program of a central facility is transmitted to this.

According to the invention, a control program is also designed as a passive emergency call program, in which a motion sensor is provided for generating a motion signal, one downstream of the motion sensor Threshold device generates a trigger signal if the motion signal is below a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined period of time, and a device activates the transmitting / receiving unit of the telecommunication terminal device for transmitting a call signal to the central device or other terminal devices when the trigger signal is present. The motion sensor can advantageously be designed as an acceleration sensor or position sensor. And connected externally to the telecommunications terminal device or integrated into it.

The activated passive emergency call program preferably generates an emergency signal in the central device or a dialing to a call number stored in the central unit. The emergency signal can be heard on the loudspeaker

Be telecommunication terminal output acoustic signal.

When the passive emergency call program is activated, it can further be provided that information stored in the program of a central facility is transmitted to any recipient together with the call signal.

A further development of the invention provides that the location of the telecommunication terminal device by means of known location methods, e.g. GPS, bearing, running time measurement, etc. is automatically recorded, processed and made available to the control programs by the central device and / or the telecommunications terminal device.

In another development of the invention, a call forwarding device is provided in the central unit, which for example forwards incoming calls to another terminal device when the room surveillance program is activated. In the control program of the central facility can also be set up a function for the detection of certain calls or phone numbers, a connection of the caller to the called telecommunication terminal being established for a specific call without activating the call display device.

A memory module is advantageously present in the telecommunication terminal device, which e.g. when the room monitoring program is activated, signals picked up by a microphone and / or a camera of the terminal device

Exceeding a threshold stores until a connection is established from the terminal device via the central device to another terminal device. Furthermore, a device can be present which connects to the other via the central device

Manufactures terminal and transmits the stored signals to the other terminal.

The storage function can also be performed by the central device if there is already a connection between the transmitting telecommunications terminal device and the central device.

For cost control for the subscriber, it is also possible to provide a connection time limitation device which can be set in a central device by the subscriber and which, e.g. with activated room monitoring program at

Exceeding a preset fee or

Time limits the connection between the telecommunications terminal and the central facility and / or other telecommunications terminals.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below using several drawing figures. From the drawings and their description will reveal further features and advantages of the invention. It shows;

Figure 1: a schematic overview of the invention

Telecommunications system; Figure 2: the schematic structure of the telecommunications system;

Figure 3: Representation of a room surveillance using the inventive method and telecommunications system; Figure 4: schematic representation of a communication terminal for use with the inventive method.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of the telecommunication system according to the invention. The customer communicates with his telecommunication terminal 1 via a communication network 2 with a central device 3. The communication network 2 can be either a fixed network or a mobile radio network or another suitable communication network.

In the central facility 3 are in addition to general

Facilities and functions stored in various control programs, which are signaled by the

Telecommunication terminal 1 can be activated or deactivated in order to trigger one or more functions in the telecommunication terminal 1, the central device 3 and / or in other telecommunication terminal devices or to passively set or terminate these functions. In addition to these control programs, the central device comprises 3 functions for storing and authenticating the Participant or its terminal 1, functions for storing customer data or information from terminal 1, functions for storing programs, functions for storing customer data or terms and conditions, a list of the features of the control programs, one by the participant or Terminal 1 controllable activation mode and a corresponding deactivation mode for the functions in the central device 3.

Figure 2 shows the schematic structure of the

Telecommunication system, the focus being on the central unit or units 3 with the corresponding control programs. By means of suitable telecommunication terminals 4, 5, which as

Fixed network terminal devices 4 or mobile terminal devices 5 can be set up, a connection to the central unit 3 can be established via the respective telecommunications network, ie fixed network 6 or mobile network 7. This connection is triggered or activated by signals from the telecommunications terminal devices 4, 5, after which preferably in the

Telecommunications terminal 4,5 certain functions are triggered. These functions, which are triggered in the telecommunication terminal 4, 5, are triggered and controlled by control programs 8 to 14 held in the central unit 3, with corresponding information or control programs for controlling the telecommunication terminal 4, 5 via the communication network 6, 7 to the corresponding one Terminal 4, 5 are transmitted.

According to the invention, the central unit 3 comprises a call forwarding function which ensures that when a call is received, for example for the telecommunication terminal 4, via the latter The usual acoustic and / or optical call display device remains silent and the call is forwarded to another call number specified by the subscriber or owner of the terminal 4.

A room monitoring program 9 offers the possibility, e.g. to transmit noises picked up by the microphone of the terminal device 4 via the telecommunications network 6 to the central unit 3 and further via a telecommunications network 16 to another terminal device 19, which terminal device can be freely specified by the user of the terminal device 4 by identifying its call number.

The acoustic monitoring signals of the terminal device 4 can also be buffered in a memory module 15 of the central unit 3 and can be called up by e.g. the terminal device 19 can be provided. A general monitoring program 13 can provide that the subscriber of the terminal 4, whose call number is stored in the central unit, can establish a connection from any terminal 19 via the central unit 3 to the terminal 4 and thereby one

Connection is established with the microphone and the loudspeaker of the terminal device 4, so that the subscriber has direct access to the room to be monitored, in which the terminal device 4 is located.

Another program module in the central unit 3 is the active emergency call program 10, which is activated when, for example, a specific emergency call button is pressed on the terminal 4, so that the central unit 3 subsequently initiates and carries out predetermined steps by the active emergency call program 10, z. B. the establishment of a connection via the mobile radio network 17 to a mobile terminal 20, with which the emergency call of the terminal 4 is received.

Another program module is personal monitoring 11, which e.g. can be activated by the terminal 5. A key of the terminal device 5 has the function of a delete button and an emergency signal is generated in the central device 3 if the delete button of the terminal device 5 is not actuated within a time period which can be predetermined by a timer after activation of the personal monitoring program 11, the predetermined time period again starts when the delete button is pressed. The timer can be arranged either in the terminal 5 or in the central unit 3.

A passive emergency call program 12 enables, in connection with e.g. the end device 5 and a movement sensor connected to the end device 5 to generate an emergency signal if the movement sensor does not emit a sufficient movement signal for a certain period of time. This enables the terminal device 5 to emit an emergency call signal even if its carrier is no longer able to operate it.

Another program module provided in the central unit 3 is the monitoring of the connection time 14, the connection between the telecommunication device, e.g. 4, and central device 3 and / or other telecommunications devices 19 is interrupted.

A program module of the central unit 3 will now be described with reference to the room monitoring 9. In a first method step 21, the room monitoring program 9 is activated by actuating a Function key 37 of a terminal 31 by the subscriber (see FIG. 4). This activation initiates a communication connection between the terminal device via a telecommunications network to the central device 3 (cf. FIG. 2). After the connection is established, a

Authentication of the subscriber in the central unit 3 according to method step 22. If the subscriber is authorized to use the room surveillance function, the call display device of the terminal device 31 is preferably muted in order to identify the person to be monitored, e.g. a toddler not to bother (step 23, 24). If no muting is desired, method step 24 is omitted, and the method proceeds to method step 25, which offers the possibility of redirecting the signals received by the terminal device 31 into a memory 15, 46, which is located either in the terminal device 31 or in the central unit 3 located.

If this is desired, the signals picked up by the terminal are redirected to the memory (step 26). If it is not desired, the central unit queries the call number of the terminal device to be dialed, to which the acoustic signals picked up by the terminal device 31 are to be transmitted (step 27). The room surveillance program is then actually carried out in the central unit 3

(Step 28), the connection to a terminal device 19 being established on the basis of the telephone number to be dialed via a telecommunications network 16 (FIG. 2). Preferably, however, only a connection is made between the end devices 31 and 19 if the noise level picked up by the end device 31 exceeds a certain threshold value. If the room monitoring program is no longer desired, the program is deactivated in accordance with step 29 by a new one Authentication (step 30) of the corresponding subscriber.

The activation of the various program modules as well as output via a terminal can take place both via the fixed network transmission path (terminal 4 and telecommunication network 6) and via the mobile radio transmission path (terminal 5 and telecommunication network 7). A mixed use of the fixed network transmission path and the mobile radio transmission path is also possible.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a

Communication terminal 31 for use with the inventive method. The communication terminal 31 can take the form of a

Mobile terminal, which has an operating part and a software / hardware module 42, which are housed in a common housing, not shown.

The mobile telephone 31 comprises a loudspeaker 32, a display unit 33, a keypad 34, various multi-function or special keys 35 to 38, such as an emergency call key, reset key, function key and speed dial key, as well as a microphone 39. The software / hardware module 42 of the mobile telephone 31 can have various devices and functions, such as a device for speech recognition 43, a device 44 for recognizing a certain volume level of the microphone 39, a device 45 for recognizing a threshold value of externally or internally generated signals, a storage device 46, a GPS location system 47 as well as a timer 48. B. connect a motion sensor 40 to the mobile phone 31 and a camera module 41, which can also be integrated in the mobile phone. drawing Legend

1 telecommunications terminal

2 telecommunications network 3 central unit

4 terminal equipment (fixed)

5 terminal equipment (mobile)

6 telecommunications network (fixed)

7 Telecommunications network (mobile) 8 program module

9 program module

10 program module

11 program module

12 program module 13 program module

14 program module

15 memory module

16 telecommunications network (fixed)

17 Telecommunications network (mobile) 18 Network gateway

19 terminal equipment (fixed)

20 terminal equipment (mobile)

21 procedural step

22 process step 23 process step

24 procedural step

25 procedural step

26 procedural step

27 step 28 step

29 procedural step

30 procedural step

31 Mobile radio terminal

32 speakers 33 display device Keypad Emergency button Reset button Function button Speed dial button Microphone Motion sensor Camera module Software / hardware module Speech detection Volume level detection Swell value detection Memory GPS location timer

Claims

claims

1. Method for operating a telecommunication system with at least one central device and at least one telecommunication terminal device for

Communication with the central device and / or other telecommunications terminal devices is formed, characterized in that in the central device (3) one or more

Control programs (8-14) are stored, the

Control programs through signals from the

Telecommunication terminal (1; 4; 5) can be activated in the telecommunication terminal, the central device and / or in others

Telecommunications terminal devices (19; 20) to trigger one or more functions.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control programs by signals of

Telecommunication terminal are activated, which are triggered by certain keys, such as function keys, programmable keys and / or speed dial keys of the telecommunication terminal.

3. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control programs are activated by signals of the telecommunications terminal device, which are triggered by voice input or by certain events.

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control program works as a room monitoring program, at which a call display device of the telecommunications terminal is muted, a volume level device connected downstream of a microphone of this terminal device for generating a sound signal when a predetermined noise level detected by the microphone is exceeded, and by means of the sound signal the selection of a call number stored in the terminal device of the central device is activated and a connection to the central device is established and a call number contained in the control program stored there is dialed after a predetermined period of time.

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that after activation of the room surveillance program and after calling the filed call number, a confirmation message from the selected call number takes place.

6. Method according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that if there is no confirmation by the call number or a selected connection, the dialing process is repeated at previously defined time intervals, and the central unit stores the dialing processes for the call number together with time information.

7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stored selection processes can be called up from the central unit together with the time information.

8. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control program works as an active emergency program, at which one or more specific buttons of the telecommunication terminal have the function of an emergency button, when actuated an emergency call signal is sent to the central device, which forwards this emergency call to at least one call number stored in the control program of the central unit.

9. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the active emergency call program is activated when a certain key of the terminal device is pressed, an emergency number stored in the central device is dialed and a message stored in the central device is transmitted to a specific recipient.

10. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control program works as a personal monitoring program, in which one or more specific keys of the terminal device have the function of a reset button, and in a monitoring program of the central device an emergency signal or a selection to one Call number stored in the central unit is generated if the reset button is not actuated within a time period which can be predetermined by a timer after the activation of the personal surveillance program, the predetermined time period beginning again if the reset key is actuated within the period of time.

11. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a warning device is provided which, when the person monitoring program is activated, an optical and / or acoustic signal in the central device after a predetermined time interval during a warning interval Generates warning signal, an emergency signal being generated if the reset button is not actuated within a warning interval after the start of the warning signal, the time interval beginning again after actuation of the reset button.

12. The method according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that when the personal monitoring program is activated, at least one predetermined emergency number is dialed in the event of an emergency signal and information or message stored in the program of a central device is transmitted to this.

13. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a

Control program works as a passive emergency call program, in which a motion sensor is provided for generating a motion signal, a threshold value device connected downstream of the motion sensor generates a trigger signal if the motion signal is below a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined period of time, and a device if the trigger signal is present, the telecommunication terminal device for transmitting one Call signal activated to the central facility or other terminals.

14. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

Motion sensor is an acceleration sensor or position sensor.

15. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motion sensor can be connected externally to the telecommunications terminal.

16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a passive emergency call program is activated by the call signal in the central unit, which one

Emergency signal or dialing to at least one call number stored in the central unit.

17. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency call signal via a loudspeaker

Telecommunication terminal output acoustic signal.

18. The method according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that when the passive emergency call program is activated, information stored in the program of a central device is transmitted to any recipient together with the call signal.

19. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the location of the telecommunication terminal is automatically detected, prepared and made available to the control programs by the central device and / or the telecommunication terminal by means of known location methods.

20 method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a call forwarding device is provided in the central unit, which forwards incoming calls to another terminal device when the room surveillance program is activated.

21. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the control program of the central device, a function for recognizing certain calls or phone numbers is set up, a connection between the caller and the telecommunication terminal being established for a predetermined call without activating the call display device ,

22. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a memory module is present in the telecommunication terminal device which, when the room monitoring program is activated, stores signals recorded by a microphone and / or a camera of the terminal device when a threshold value is exceeded, until a connection is established a central device is made to another terminal device, and / or a device is present which is via the central

Establishes a connection to the other terminal and transmits the stored signals to this other terminal.

23. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage function is taken over by the central device as soon as there is a connection between the transmitting telecommunications terminal device and the central device.

24. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connection time limitation device which can be set in the central device by the subscriber is provided, which the connection between the telecommunication terminal device and the central device and / or other telecommunication terminal devices is interrupted if a preset fee or time limit is exceeded.

25. Telecommunication system with at least one central device and at least one telecommunication terminal device for communication with the central device and / or others

Telecommunications terminal equipment is formed, characterized in that one or more control programs (8-14) are stored in the central device (3), the control programs being represented by signals from the

Telecommunication terminal device (1; 4; 5) can be activated in order to trigger one or more functions in the telecommunication terminal device, the central device and / or in other telecommunication terminal devices (19; 20).